Advertisement
Henshaw and Conan both start. Billy Stickland/INPHO

Henshaw, Furlong and Conan start for Gatland's Lions in the first Test

Conor Murray and Tadhg Beirne have been included on the bench.

WARREN GATLAND HAS included Irish trio Jack Conan, Robbie Henshaw, and Tadhg Furlong in a Lions starting XV captained by Alun Wyn Jones for Saturdayโ€™s first Test against the Springboks in Cape Town [KO 5pm Irish time, Sky Sports].

Conor Murray and Tadhg Beirne have been included on the bench but their Ireland team-mates Bundee Aki and Iain Henderson miss out on the matchday 23.

Gatland has selected a team including several surprises, with Conanโ€™s form rewarded at number eight ahead of the highly experienced Taulupe Faletau, who is absent from the squad.

Furlong starts in a front row that also includes Wyn Jones and the in-form Luke Cowan-Dickie, while Maro Itoje partners the fit-again Jones in the second row. This will be Jonesโ€™ 10th successive Lions Test start.

Conan is in the middle of a back row that sees Courtney Lawes beat Beirne for the starting blindside slot and Tom Curry preferred to Hamish Watson on the openside. Watson and Beirne will both look to make an impact as replacements.

Murray also has to settle for a place on the bench as Gatland opts for in-form Scotland scrum-half Ali Price in the number nine shirt. Price will partner Dan Biggar in the halfbacks, with Owen Farrell joining Murray among the substitutes.

conor-murray Murray has to settle for a spot on the bench. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

After making his comeback from a hamstring injury last weekend, Henshaw partners Elliot Daly in midfield, with the versatile England international having impressed at outside centre on this tour.

Meanwhile, the back three is made up of the powerful Duhan van der Merwe on the left wing, Anthony Watson on the right, and Scotland captain Stuart Hogg at fullback. Walesโ€™ Josh Adams misses out on the matchday squad as Liam Williams provides back three cover as a replacement.

Gatland has opted for a regular 5/3 split on his bench, with Ken Owens named ahead of Jamie George, Rory Sutherland preferred to Mako Vunipola, and Kyle Sinckler offering impact at tighthead.

Beirne will cover the second row and blindside flanker, while Watson is also primed provide an injection of power in the back row. Farrell covers out-half and inside centre, while Williams could come on at fullback or on the wing.

โ€œIn my four tours as a Lions coach, this was by far the hardest Test selection I have been involved in,โ€ said Lions boss Gatland.

Lions (v South Africa):

15. Stuart Hogg

14. Anthony Watson

13. Elliot Daly

12. Robbie Henshaw 

11. Duhan van der Merwe

10. Dan Biggar 

9. Ali Price

1. Wyn Jones

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie 

3. Tadhg Furlong 

4. Maro Itoje 

5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)

6. Courtney Lawes

7. Tom Curry

8. Jack Conan

Replacements:

16. Ken Owens

17. Rory Sutherland

18. Kyle Sinckler

19. Tadhg Beirne

20. Hamish Watson

21. Conor Murray

22. Owen Farrell

23. Liam Williams

Referee: Nic Berry [Rugby Australia].

Close
37 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute samstheman
    Favourite samstheman
    Report
    Mar 18th 2019, 11:00 PM

    It really is people from outside the club who are concerned about his dry spell. 17 goals 7 assists & well in the hunt for the golden boot again

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
    Favourite Fr Romeo sensini.
    Report
    Mar 19th 2019, 8:51 AM

    @samstheman: his finishing and awareness of players around him recently has been shocking, pressure?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Battaz
    Favourite Battaz
    Report
    Mar 18th 2019, 11:09 PM

    Even when Salah hits a dry patch the opposition are fixated on him!
    Liverpool are Top of the Premiership, and in the quarter finals of the Championโ€™s League!
    Slow news day?

    45
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Trotter
    Favourite Derek Trotter
    Report
    Mar 18th 2019, 11:17 PM

    @Battaz: tbf its not news but for salah to come out of his dry spell( if ya can call it that) would be a massive boost for lfc. While their in a great posistion city still there and augero scoring. Messi/ronaldo scoring for europes big teams.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fred McHugh
    Favourite Fred McHugh
    Report
    Mar 18th 2019, 10:25 PM

    Salah is selfish. Always angry and moody when he doesnโ€™t score yet the team are winning.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Derek Trotter
    Favourite Derek Trotter
    Report
    Mar 18th 2019, 10:45 PM

    @Fred McHugh: all top strikers/goal scorers have that trait. Its a positive in a goal scorer. Top top player

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Willy Motley
    Favourite Willy Motley
    Report
    Mar 18th 2019, 10:52 PM

    @Fred McHugh: talking ouv your hoop

    32
    See 3 more replies โ–พ
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aileen Frost
    Favourite Aileen Frost
    Report
    Mar 19th 2019, 1:32 AM

    @Fred McHugh: thats what top strikers are โ€ฆ. Not ever happy with what they have . MON DA POOL

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Pocock
    Favourite Conor Pocock
    Report
    Mar 19th 2019, 4:18 AM

    @Fred McHugh: can only agree with you Frederick. That accidental assist for Mane with the outside of his right foot v Munich was absolute and utter greed. Sell him to West Ham and be off with him

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Conor Pocock
    Favourite Conor Pocock
    Report
    Mar 19th 2019, 4:19 AM

    @Conor Pocock: left footโ€ฆ. doh :)

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel